Delaying the building of houses will create major traffic problems in Silsden, a developer claimed at a major public inquiry.

Andrew Brown, of developer Countryside Properties PLC, told a Government inquiry into Bradford Council's Unitary Development Plan that he feared any hold-ups in house building could cause hold-ups for a planned by-pass in the town.

Bradford Council proposes delaying some new housing until 2009 after a decade of campaigns by residents to prevent mass home-building in the area.

The six-month-long inquiry into the UDP, which has its focus on Silsden this week, heard how major development plans for employment and housing are already included in the existing UDP.

The Council is proposing a longer time scale for implementation.

But Mr Brown said it was important to press ahead with the plans.

"Countryside Properties PLC fully supports the Council's proposal that the Silsden town expansion scheme, together with the associated by-pass, should remain an essential part of the district's future development as set out in the replacement UDP," he said.

"However, there is concern that the pushing back of housing allocations will prevent the essential construction of the by-pass to alleviate recognised traffic problems as well as the necessary investment that will ensure the appropriate development of this strategic scheme and the crucial delivery of new housing across the Bradford district."

He said that phase two housing would not be developed until 2009 at the earliest, and also that there was no certainty that the development of the sites would even be permitted.

"These decisions on the phasing of the housing allocations seriously impede the development at Silsden. Without some degree of certainty it is not possible to appropriately plan for, invest in and provide this strategic scheme."

On Thursday, residents will attend the inquiry at Victoria Hall, Saltaire, to put their views, but the panel of Government-appointed inspectors - led by Cliff Hughes, pictured above - is not expected to announce its decision for at least a year.

Bradford Council planning officer David Preece said the scheme was important to the district but needed monitoring.